Two experienced business travelers reveal their favorite packing tips

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Helen Filatova - ShutterStock

Traveling for work can be a mixed blessing. While people outside of your circle might see it as you going on a paid vacation every other month, you know you're traveling for work, not pleasure. Sure, you get to be out of the office and see the world a bit, but that doesn't discount the difficulties of making a meeting at 6 a.m. that feels like 3 a.m. after jumping a few time zones.

To help address the troubles of work travel, we spoke to two veterans of the field, asking them for the essential items they don't leave home without. Mindy Grossman is the CEO of HSN as well as a passionate philanthropist with UNICEF, and has been named as one of Forbes 100 most powerful women three times. John Meadow is the Founder and President of LDV Hospitality, a restaurateur with stellar locations across the US. They were both kind enough to give us a peek into their carry-on bags and tell us about their most treasured travel accessories and tips, and we've added a few of our recommendations as well. If you're a frequent jetsetter, or have a few upcoming meetings across the pond, scan through here and see if there's anything you should add to your bags before making your way through TSA.

A durable carry-on

Amazon

Only travel rookies check bags nowadays. The pros travel carry-on. And in order to do that you need luggage that is strong enough to withstand some turbulence in the overhead compartment while staying light enough so that you can sprint through the airport with it to catch your connecting flight. "My luggage takes a beating and I need cases that are resilient and lightweight, and protect my clothes (so I can pack as much as possible without going over a weight limit)." Grossman told us.

A sleep mask

Amazon

It's important to fit in sleep when you can while you're traveling for work. Sometimes the time you have available for sleeping doesn't matchup with the setting of the sun, other times you're up in the air and your seat neighbor wants to finish his book before landing. To help with that, grab a sleep mask to ensure your slumber isn't interrupted by some pesky rays of sunshine or the light of an ambitious reader.

"If I'm traveling overnight somewhere, these are golden. They block out all the light to help me sleep," says Meadow. Go ahead and snag a nice neck pillow as well to help you nap at cruising altitude.

A portable steamer

Amazon

It's important to look your best when you're on the job, even if you're a bit frazzled from travel. Steamers can help to ensure your clothes look sharp even after they sat through a five-hour flight in your carry-on bag. “My miniature steamer heats up in a minute — it keeps my clothes looking fresh and I avoid those exorbitant charges hotels tack on to press something,” says Grossman.

A dopp kit or toiletry bag

Amazon

This one is a no-brainer. Have a dopp kit ready to go with all of the essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, disposable razor, and whatever other clippers and trimmers you may need that pass TSA guidelines. If you're traveling with checked bags, keep it in your carry-on just in case your luggage goes to Auckland instead of Oakland.

A pair of noise-cancelling headphones

Amazon

Any person who spends their fair share of time in the sky knows that a good pair of headphones is a must. When traveling, we recommend this in-ear pair by Bose. They're noise cancelling, allowing you to drown out the ambient noise of the plane around you, but small enough to fit in your pocket and save you room that your pair of over-ear headphones wouldn't allow. It's a one-time investment that will change countless flights to come.

A set of velvet hangers

Amazon

Velvet hangers are an essential travel tool when trying to organize your look for the coming workweek. As Grossman told us, "I pack everything by outfit on huggable hangers — that way I can unpack and hang everything right out of the suitcase." They are lightweight, thin, and sturdy, and they'll save you time.

A set of packing cubes and envelopes

Amazon

Packing cubes make it easy to stay organized when packing your suitcase for travel. Envelopes also serve as a great tool to conserve space within your carry-on. Traveling is much easier when everything is in its proper place, not stuffed hurriedly into whichever compartment will fit. "Both my husband and I use these. You can pack your socks and underwear, workout clothes, shirts, and so on separately and then just take them out and put them right into a drawer — it's very sanitary as well," explains Grossman.

A powerful cleansing brush

Amazon

When you're on the go, you don't have all of the comforts of your home shower and you never seem get as clean as you'd like to. Sometimes you may not even be able to sneak in a hotel shower in the time between your landing and your meeting. Whatever the case, a cleansing brush will help keep your skin looking fresh and clean. Of her brush, Grossman said, "It's small and powerful and is great for reviving tired skin when traveling."

A facial moisturizer

Amazon

Keep your skin looking and feeling good with a quality moisturizer. Kiehl's moisturizer comes infused with Vitamins C and E, meant to refuel and revitalize your skin. "I started using this moisturizer and have never had any issues since, so now I swear by it," Meadow says.

Even if you arrive at your work destination exhausted, your face doesn't have to show it.

A bottle of dry shampoo

Amazon

Dry shampoo is great for keeping your hair looking polished when you don't have the chance to go through your usual cleaning routine. With a few sprays you can rid your head of oil and sweat and have one nice hair day last through the whole weekend.

A pair of running sneakers

Amazon

While you many not be able to fit in the full rundown of your workout schedule, if you're trying to fit in some form of exercise a good pair of sneakers is all you need. Most hotels you stay at will probably have at least a small gym with a treadmill, and if they don't you can always jog outside a bit and get to know your new surroundings.

A dependable and lightweight laptop

Apple

A solid laptop will allow you to take your work with you no matter where you travel. From it you can work on spreadsheets, write up a proposal, or attend meetings through a Google Hangout. While flying, it's also an all-inclusive entertainment console. As Meadow's told us, "My MacBook air is like my office away from home. I use it on all my flights to catch up on all my emails."

A bottle of Melatonin

Amazon

When you're body can't keep up with all of the travelling you're doing, your sleep cycle can fall apart rather quickly. Jetlag affects even the most frequent of fliers, and you need a plan if you don't want to be caught dozing off mid-conference. Melatonin serves to help you fall asleep when you have the time to crash. Meadow tells us, "It's my go-to for long flights. I sometimes will have to travel to Milan and Dubai all in one week, and these really help my sleep schedule."

An emergency stain-removing pen

Amazon

When travelling, spills will happen. Whether your orange juice spills during some turbulence, or your pen started bleeding in your pocket, a Tide To Go stick can help you get past whatever temporary embarrassment the moment caused and move on through the day confidently. They're also great to share if you see a coworker struggling with a stain.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Business Insider's Insider Picks team. We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners, including Amazon. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, is an investor in Business Insider through his personal investment company Bezos Expeditions. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback.
Have something you think we should know about? Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.